Saint Elizabeth of3 6 PortugalURGATORY 1 2 7 1 - 1 3 P he Roman Martyrology remembers father and son. Later this intervention Saint Elizabeth of Portugal in this led to the accusation that Elizabeth was way: “Saint Elizabeth, who, as Queen siding with their son Alphonse against Tof Portugal, was exemplar in her work Denis, and therefore she was confined in of reconciliation between kings and in the town of Alenquer, north of Lisbon. charity towards the poor; after becoming But soon her husband called her back, widow of King Denis, embraced the rule because he wanted her close to him. of the nuns of the Third Order of Saint Elizabeth returned and resumed her Clare in the coenobium of Estremoz in place beside the king until when her Portugal, founded by herself, in which husband was struck by an illness. At the later she returned to the Lord, while she death of her husband in 1325, she donated was intent in having her son reconcile all her belongings to the poor and to with her son-in-law.” monasteries and became a Third Order Franciscan. She went on a pilgrimage She was born in Zaragoza, Aragon by foot to the Shrine of Campostela, (Spain), in 1271, a daughter of King where she left her crown and entered Peter III. When just 12 years old she among the Poor Clares of Coimbra. That was given in marriage to Denis, King monastery becomes her dwelling, but of Portugal, from whom she had two one time she had to leave it because children. It was a marriage characterized there was again need of her: she had to by the infidelities of her husband, but reconcile her son Alphonse IV with King told her how her daughter Constance Elizabeth was able to offer a true Christian Ferdinand of Castile who was her son- appeared to him several times and had witness. She carried out a work of peace in-law (the husband of Constance). She confided to him that she was condemned in her family and, as adviser to her died in 1336 in Estremoz, Portugal. to staying a long time in Purgatory. She husband, succeeded in calming the would be liberated within a year, if disagreements between Aragon and Saint Elizabeth had a daughter every day a Mass would be said in her Portugal. But not only that: Elizabeth named Constance, who died suddenly, supplication. Elizabeth, in agreement with also took much care for the children a short time after marrying the king of her husband, did what was requested. brought into the world by her husband Castile. Elizabeth was made aware of the After one year Constance dressed in white with other women. And the unfaithful tragedy when she was going to Santarem and surrounded by glory appeared to husband Denis recognized the moral together with her husband. During the Elizabeth to announce that thanks to the superiority of Elizabeth, so much that journey, a hermit started running behind Masses celebrated, she was ascending when their son Alphonse rebelled against the royal entourage and began shouting to Heaven. him, it was the authority of the Saint that he wanted to speak with the queen. which averted an armed fight between Upon being received in her presence, he © Associazione Carlo Acutis.